Introducing the Hidden Landscapes of Greenland StoryMap Collection
Here is a collection of four Greenland StoryMaps covering the landscape beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet, launched as a collection in May 2024. They are suitable for UK GCSE to A-level (age ~16 to 18).
The StoryMaps are presented alongside supportive material including a video interview, images and photographs, a scheme of work, and the sections of the A-Level syllabus to which this is relevant.
The Hidden Landscapes of Greenland StoryMap Collection introduces physical and human environment of Greenland, its climate and ice sheet, what lies underneath the ice sheet, and how we are trying to understand Greenland’s ancient past.
The Greenland StoryMap Collection answers the following questions:
- Where is Greenland?
- What lies beneath the ice of Greenland?
- How does ice shape Greenland?
- What was Greenland like in the past?
Together, the StoryMaps are estimated to take around 3-4 hours (or 3-4 double lessons) to work through and complete. Each can be stand alone or they can be used together to explore Greenland’s landscape and history. The StoryMap series is supported by a Scheme of Work. They are aimed at GCSE / A-level students and beginners who are interested in learning about Greenland.
By completing the series of activities listed throughout the StoryMaps, and interacting with the resources, you will finish with a clearer understanding of the mysterious world that lies underneath ice sheets!
Mapping the glacier bed
We use ice-penetrating radar to map the topography of the land beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet.
You can find out more about how we use radar to survey the bed of glaciers here:
Date of Publication
The complete Hidden Landscapes of Greenland StoryMap Collection was launched on 28/05/2024.
Authors
These freely available resources were produced by Edmund Lea, Guy Paxman, and Bethan Davies.
Guy Paxman
Guy Paxman is an Assistant Professor (Research) at Durham University.
My research focusses on using ice-penetrating radar to map the landscapes hidden beneath the ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica. I am interested in how these landscapes have evolved through time (both before and after the ice first formed, many millions of years ago). In the British Isles, studying the landscapes left behind by glaciation can tell us a lot about the history of these glaciations. The aim of my work in Greenland and Antarctica is very similar, except visualising the topography under the ice is more challenging! I aim to learn more about the long-term history of these ice sheets, how they behave, and how they respond to changes in Earth’s climate.
Edmund Lea
Edmund Lea is a PhD researcher from Durham University.
I am a PhD researcher at Durham University with a passion for mapping and understanding glaciated and deglaciated landscapes. I have a BSc in Geography from Durham, specialising in GIS and remote sensing. My current and previous work involves using satellite and airborne datasets to map and interpret the enigmatic landscapes that lie below the surface of the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets. I am enthusiastic about the communication of polar science and always filled with faith and hope for the future of the polar regions.
Funding and Contributors
The project was funded by the Durham University Department of Geography impact fund.
